Storms over Saxony hampered Manchester City’s route to East Germany on Tuesday.

However, the holders’ path to the knock-out stages appears to be considerably more straightforward.

Alvarez scored City’s second with a wonder strikeCredit: PA

Doku added a third in stoppage timeCredit: AP

Julian Alvarez came off the bench to score a tasty late winner for Pep Guardiola’s team against their usual Champions League opponents.

Only five minutes after taking over for the other goalkeeper, Phil Foden, the Argentine collected a pass from Jeremy Doku before curling in a masterpiece from the edge of the area.

The World Cup winner then returned the favor in stoppage time, sending Doku away to seal the victory.

Erling Haaland, his teammate, owes both of them a heartfelt thank you.

For once, against his favorite opponents, the Norwegian had a night to forget, squandering a slew of opportunities that could have been costly.

Instead, the treble champions have taken maximum points from two games, and their most difficult game of the group stage is over.

City have begun their defense of the title they won in June.

This is the third season in a row that these two clubs have met in this competition.

City sit comfortably top of their groupCredit: EPA

Leaving Pep the chance to focus more heavily on the Premier LeagueCredit: PA

When they met in the last 16 here in February, Red Bull earned a point due to a second-half goal from Josko Gvardiol.

The Croatian World Cup hero joined City in the summer for £77 million and was given a special farewell from his former team before kickoff.

He’d undoubtedly like to forget the second leg in Manchester, in which Erling Haaland scored five goals in a 7-0 slaughter.

The Norwegian enjoys playing against these opponents, having scored 11 goals in only six games.

That’s more than any other opponent has versus the 23-year-old.

The last time City lost three games in a row was in March 2018, but they were facing that threat again tonight after defeats at Newcastle and Wolves.

The manager said before the game that it had ‘hurt’ his team, but that’s how he likes it because it makes them want to win again.

Guardiola surprised everyone by starting youngster Rico Lewis in midfield with Rodri.

Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes, and Kalvin Phillips, all of whom cost roughly £125 million, were all left on the bench.

However, it appeared to work well as he assisted his team in absolutely dominating the opening exchanges – and was even involved in their first great chance.

His shot was blocked, and Foden responded with an effort, but Bernardo Silva, who was close on the post, failed to convert.

After weaving his way past a few of defenders, Foden clipped his effort wide.

Perhaps their inability to convert their clear supremacy into goals irritated Guardiola, who appeared more animated on the sidelines than normal.

But it was fair to suggest a goal was on the way for the visitors, and it came from the City Football Academy.

Lewis exchanged passes with Bernardo Silva before releasing Foden, whose shot into the ground bounced over Janis Blaswich.

Two young players from City’s youth system combined superbly for a stunning goal.

It was Foden’s 11th goal of the season, and there will undoubtedly be many more to come.

Haaland, another childhood City supporter, tried to get in on the act by getting in behind the home defense but inexplicably poked his shot across goal and wide.

And, shortly before the break, the Norwegian went for goal again from a tight angle, but fired straight at Blaswich when he might have attempted to square it.

City had been so far ahead in the match in February, but had failed to put the game to bed.

And they paid the price four minutes later, when Jack Grealish gave the ball away and Red Bull launched a counter-attack.

Yussuf Poulsen passed to Lois Openda, who brushed off Manuel Akanji before sliding a shot under Ederson and in off the post.

Guardiola’s head was in his hands – that was the home team’s first serious effort of the night, and they were level.

City knew they were in a game now, but they blew an opportunity to retake the lead when Foden fizzed over a low cross that Haaland couldn’t convert.

The England man, on the other hand, was clearly in a good mood, and his beautiful free-kick from a tight angle almost took Blaswich off guard as it slammed into the underside of the bar.

Meanwhile, Haaland was having one of those nights where his low shot simply wouldn’t go in, as Blaswich dived full stretch to keep it out.

After superb work by Lewis, the £51 million man rocketed another effort over the bar. He should have had the match ball at the very least.

With Leipzig looking for an equalizer, Alvarez blasted a beauty and then sent another sub, Doku, away to score.